Tuesday, September 26, 2006

The Endorsements Roll In

I've tried to avoid simply reposting every press release which comes out of the Kennedy campaign on this blog since I'd rather not just be a propaganda dispenser. But, after reading a dozen stories which call this a "3 man race" when, in my humble opinion, it's anything but, I figured it couldn't hurt to toss up a few good news stories from the Kennedy campaign. So...

1) As someone with a deep respect for the Liberal MLAs in the Alberta Liberal Party, I was very glad to learn earlier this week that three of them have decided to publicly support Gerard. Mo Elsalhy, Bill Bonko, and Bruce Miller have all endorsed Gerard and two of them will even be running as delegates. Given how hesitant provincial Liberals are to be associated with the federal party, I think it says a lot that they're willing to stick their necks out on this one. One of the three who I talked to said he'd met with Gerard and another candidate (I won't name names) on the same day and he asked them both the same question on national unity - according to him, Gerard said twice as much in half the time and this won him over.

2) Vince MacLean, the former leader of the Nova Scotia Liberals has endorsed Kennedy.

3) By all indications, Gerard will do very well in British Columbia this weekend. And even though Western Canada gets ignored in certain polls, there are a lot of delegates who will be going to this convention from the West.

You should also feel no shame in pointing out to the world that Kennedy, who has never held a seat in Parliament, has more than MP endorsements of all of the candidates put together other than Ignatieff, plus a ton from Queen's Park.

I know this is probably not the right place to post this, but I thought I would get it out that I have a petition calling on Volpe to drop out at http://www.petitiononline.com/volpe/petition.html.

As for Kennedy, I agree the Alberta Liberals are big news as they know full well the risk of getting too cozy with the federal Liberals. The only provincial Liberals that have stayed silent are the Quebec and BC Liberals, but both parties also include federal Conservatives which is probably the reason.

This is good news for Kennedy. The provincial Liberals in Alberta are much better organized - and far more successful - than their federal cousins.

Watch Rae's campaign make a big deal out of Anne McLellan when she eventually declares her support, but Bruce Miller, who represents the same area Anne did, is IMHO a bigger score because he can get out the vote. He's also a straight shooter, so this speaks well for Kennedy's character.

Well, I think it may have become a 3 man race -- between, in alphabetical order, Dion, Kennedy, and Rae. Ignatieff will lead first ballot, but the combined forces against him will go to one of these three candidates.

That's the first real speculation I've offered, and by now, it's probably too safe to even call "speculation". Just remember - I know nothing...

We have 64 seats in the commons compared to 75 for Quebec... but we are whiners when we complain about the unfair distribution of power.

Where is the Party of Canada when an injustice such as this is perpetrated against fellow Canadians?

Where is the vaunted Liberal Party, the party that knowingly allowed and bartered grandfather clauses into our Constitution?

Where is the party that seeks to represent Albertans and B.C'ers when they know full well we are second class citizens in our political system?

Which of your wanna-be leaders will stand up and meet the challenge of this injustice.

Why must Alberta and BC wallow in under-representation, requiring anywhere from 50,000 to 70,000 more votes than 7 other provinces to elect a single MP?

Do you, the would be leaders of a national party which purports to believe in equality and social justice, believe that democracy is alive and well in this country, when fully half of the nation is under-represented to the point where an MP in PEI has 4 times the wieght of voice than one from Alberta, BC, or Ontario?

When will this dismal and embarassing state of affairs end?

I ask this because if your not willing to address it, Alberta and BC eventually will... that is an outcome no one will enjoy.

Naw, I think the culpable party (hint: they wear blue) is only too well aware of Western alienation - why would they need a reminder? Co-operation from both parties on a very, very important issue is needed here. I want the Liberals and Conservatives both (and everyone else) to get on board.

I wonder who Belinda Stronach will endorse as well. I imagined if she actually endorsed Rae everyone would laugh at it considering she is a close friend of Mike Harris and was endorsed by him for the Conservative leadership race. My guess is she will go with Ignatieff, Dion, or Kennedy. As for Ralph Goodale, I could see him going for any of the top five (Dion, Dryden, Ignatieff, Kennedy, or Rae).

Although I expect Anne McLellan to endorse Bob Rae, I wonder when she will make the announcement. Finally it would be interesting to see who McKenna, Manley, and Tobin endorse although somehow I think they will stay out of it.